Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M16B

Overview

Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M16B
General Data
Type	Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Fire Support Vehicle
Place of Origin	United States of America
Manufacturer	Field conversion
Produced	1944
Number Built	321 or 332
In Service	1944 - 1945 Possibly saw service in Korea
Development
Chassis	M2 Half-Track
Developed From	M16 MGMC
Armament
Main Gun	4 x 12.7x99mm M2 Machine Gun on M45D mount (5,000-rnds)
Main Gun Sights	Reflex sight, M18 or Illuminated sight Mk 9 Mod 1
Traverse	360° @ 60°/s (360°/10s) (electric)
Elevation	-10° to +90° (electric)
Misc Specs
Crew	5
Automotive
Engine	White 160AX I-6, liquid-cooled 6325.4cm² gasoline (72-octane) 150 HP @ 3,000 rpm
Suspension
Suspension	Semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf spring (front) Vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS) (rear)

The Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M16B (abbreviated as M16B MGMC) is an American self-propelled anti-aircraft halftrack developed as a conversion from the M2 Half-Track and M16 MGMC.

The designation M16B is unofficial, yet standardized. Many other conversions where turrets are fitted to alternate chassis use the B suffix to denote a chassis change.

The M16B MGMC mounts the turret from the M16 MGMC on the M2 Half-Track, where it was originally mounted on an M3 Half-Track.

Development

A single conversion of an M2 Half-Track to fit the M45D quad-mount was undertaken in 1944 from a trailer-mounted version of the M45D. The conversion was a simple process, which led to over 300 being converted by order of the Chief Ordnance Officer of the First U.S. Army (at the time), Colonel John B. Medaris.

321 conversions were reported built prior to the D-Day landings, however 332 were reported in an after action report.

Service

The M16B MGMC complemented the standard M16 MGMC in service throughout Europe. It fought from D-Day until the end of the war, and possibly saw service in Korea alongside other M16s.

16 were to be assigned to each AAA battalion, of which 20 battalions received their units.

Variants

Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, T58 Prototype model on M3 Half-Track. Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, T61 Prototype model on M2 Half-Track. Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M13 Model with M33 mount. Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M16 Model with M45D mount. Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M16B M45D mount on an M2 Half-Track instead of the M3 Half-Track. Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M16A1 Model with M45F mount. Additional communications equipment was also fitted. Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M16A2 Model with M45F mount. M16 converted to M16A1 standard, lacks some features.

M16A1 (left) next to M16 (right)

United States of America Land Vehicles Interwar & World War II Period (1919 — 1945)

Wheeled Vehicles
Combat Vehicles	Armoured Cars	T17 (E1 • E2 • E3) • T18 M8
	Scout Cars	T6 • T7 • T8 • T9 • T10 • T11 (E1 • E2) • T24 • T25 (E1 • E2 • E3) M3 • (A1)
	Gun Motor Carriages (GMC)	M6 • T66 • T55 (E1)
	Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (MGMC)	T69
Utility	Transport & Towing	M20
	Trailers	M15 Trailer

Sources
Books	Online	Documents
• Halftrack, R.P. Hunnicutt